Identities (2)

"I am princess Zhi Lan of the Qiu Kingdom."

"Hmm", Commander Wei went to deep thoughts. He suspected much recalling her regal actions from time to time. Although he knew she was at least of noble blood, he did not expect her to be of royal blood though. "So you're the lost princess of Qiu." Lan nodded.

Commander felt that something does not add up. "You're the lost princess of Qiu, yet you did not go home. Your kingdom is only north from here and you could've told us anytime to bring you back. Your people, uncle, and mother must be waiting for you...Why did you stay? Rather, why is this related to your behavior?"

Lan is seemingly calm, but her heart is silently quaking in her chest. 'He must know what happened.' Lan answered, trying to hold her tears back, "Commander, the people who attacked the palace that night were indeed rebels...but the one who everyone thought stopped them...was actually...leading them. Emperor Zhuang, my uncle, killed grandfather and father with his sword. He took mother. He wanted to kill me, but mother traded herself for my life...She told me to run..to live.." Lan couldn't hold back anymore when tears began to chase down her face. "What everyone is saying not true...mother did not seduce the emperor."

Commander Wei looks at the crying little girl and wipes her face. "Shh...It's okay I'm here," he hugged her tightly again. 'So that's what happened.' Commander Wei can't help but feel conflicted. The way Emperor Zhuang got to power was treason, but it is an undeniable fact that he did help Qiu prosper. When Qiu prospers, it increases trade and economic power to the rest of the Mingyue, the Xia Kingdom included; Qiu being the kingdom dense with merchants and farming.

He realizes was what that's been motivating Lan the whole time. But even if he wanted to help her bring her mother back, he doesn't have the authority to create conflicts between the two kingdoms. especially now that she's an empress.

Commander Wei felt bad. A little girl like her shouldn't have witnessed what she did. He can't imagine the depth of Lan's sadness and loneliness.

He once saw another side of the girl, and he doesn't want her to lose it all because of this ordeal. No, her pure smile and laughter is something to protect. He will help her as she goes through this.

"Lan, your mother is safe. Though she may not be in an ideal situation, Emperor Zhuang must have a reason to make her the empress, which makes it harder for him to harm her. Lan, you're only seven, listen to your mom and help yourself first before you do anything else for someone else," he pats her back, "I am here for you child."

Lan continues to cry.

Commander Wei then pulls her out from his embrace, wipes her tears away, and looked straight into her eyes, "Lan, I would like to adopt you to my family as my granddaughter. Would you allow that?" He may not be able to help her mother, he can help Lan.

At that moment, General Wei who have been eavesdropping dashes in. "Commander, I don't think that's appropriate."

Commander drops Lan down for her to stand and straightens her up, "Lan go out and wash your face okay? Go to my tent after. You haven't eaten much for the past week, your small body must be starving. I had the chef make plain bao to fill you up a bit." Lan nodded, taking the clue that Commander and General were going to have a private conversation.

The men waited for her to leave. "Commander...Father, I don't think it's appropriate for her to join the family. I know you care for the girl, I do too, and your nature won't leave her be especially after knowing her past now. But she's a direct bloodline of the Han clan. If Emperor Zhuang finds out, there will be trouble between two kingdoms."

Commander Wei had already thought of the consequences. But none of it weighs more than the lively hood of Lan.

"Jing'er, Lan's background is pitiful. She deserves a family who will nurture and lover her properly. You've seen her potential too. Lan is Lan here, not Zhi Lan, not a princess. She's an orphan. Think back to how you were three decades ago. That is her now Jing'er. Her home will be in the Wei manor, and no one will know the truth besides us."

General Wei was indeed an orphan over thirty years ago. His blood family was once an established family of merchants. But one night, assassins came and killed everyone but him. The killers, to today, are still mysteries. Ten-year-old Hong Jing was filled with sadness, anger, and most definitely, loneliness. When Commander Wei adopted him as his own, he was no longer alone in his own despair. Commander Wei raised and taught him everything he knows today as he became a renown general.

Recalling his past, General Wei realizes Commander Wei will never stop being too kind. Despite being a powerful Commander, his heart is too big for his own good.

"Okay. We can raise Lan under the Wei family name."

Commander Wei chuckles, "I was going to do that even without your permission. Lan is too adorable to send her away."

General Wei sighs, 'how is possible for the old man to be kind and shameless at the same time.'